India–South Korea Ties Gain Fresh Momentum as Focus Shifts to AI and Semiconductors

25th June2026,seoul: Following the successful conclusion of his visit to Mongolia, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar completed the second leg of his two-country tour with a two-day official visit to South Korea on June 24–25. Amid rapidly evolving global developments and geopolitical challenges, this high-level visit is being viewed as a significant step toward elevating the India–South Korea Special Strategic Partnership to a new level.

Soon after arriving in Seoul, Dr. Jaishankar held comprehensive delegation-level talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun. The discussions, which lasted nearly three hours, focused on the swift implementation of agreements and decisions reached during South Korean President Lee Jae-myung’s visit to India in April 2026. The two sides reviewed bilateral cooperation across traditional and strategic sectors, including trade, investment, finance, shipbuilding, defence, advanced diplomacy, technology, and clean energy. They also reaffirmed their commitment to working together in emerging areas such as startups, fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, and critical minerals.

In a statement issued on June 25, India’s Ministry of External Affairs said that on the second day of his visit, Dr. Jaishankarparticipated as a keynote speaker at the 21st Jeju Forum for Peace and Prosperity held on Jeju Island. Addressing the global forum, themed "Reinventing Cooperation in a Fragmented World," he highlighted the strong complementarities between India and South Korea. He stated that "We have complementarities in fields like ship – building, digital, health, infrastructure or defence just waiting to be exploited." He also advocated for providing greater capabilities and opportunities to the Global South in order to accelerate global development.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Foreign Minister expressed appreciation to New Delhi for hosting "Korea Week," which forms part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s commitment to addressing the concerns of Korean businesses operating in India. South Korea will also soon organize a similar dialogue mechanism for Indian companies operating there.

According to experts, the visit will not only make India–South Korea bilateral relations more contemporary and future-oriented, but will also further strengthen India’s Act East Policy in the Indo-Pacific region.